Andrew Tait from Bungay will be pushing off from Treginnis in west Wales on September 1 and, with the prevailing south-westerly winds behind him, hopes to blow into Lowestoft nearly 400 miles and five days later. The furthest he has cycled to date is the date is 80 miles from Bungay to Bury St Edmunds and back.
 
Andrew is raising money for the Quiet Waters Christian Retreat House, which he leads with his wife Ruth. He said: “It is a little oasis of Suffolk green on the banks of the River Waveney where people leave behind for a while their frantic concerns and enjoy good food, rest, cheerful company and – if it is overdue – a leisurely conversation with God. Many come at a crossroads of their lives, others just need space and time to spend with God.  The team are happy to offer a listening ear and prayer support.”
 
For these visitors, Quiet Waters spells refreshment, recovery and a readiness to take a new run at life. For the small but energetic team which Andrew and Ruth lead, it spells a sometimes frenetic cycle of scrubbing floors and pans, laundry and cleaning, pulling weeds and nettles, chopping logs and carrots.
 
Hence Andrew’s marathon bike ride. The plan is to raise enough money to transform a static caravan in the grounds and turn it into staff accommodation for a larger permanent staff team. Then the retreat can then accommodate enough people to run it without everyone having to pedal as fast as Andrew will need to for him to cross the Brecon Beacons and reach the Waveney estuary.
 
You can read all about Quiet Waters at www.quietwaters.org.uk or sponsor Andrew by getting in touch with him at andrew@quiestwaters.org.uk
 

Pictured above is warden Andrew Tait outside Quiet Waters in Bungay.